Vinland Blog 2024
Introduction
I have always been interested in the Vikings, especially their visits to North America and the encounters with the natives (Skraelings). As if to spur this on, I was commissioned to build a model of a Viking Longship for our Local Scandinavian Cultural Center. Near the same time I obtained a copy of the book Westviking by Farley Mowat (1965) and after reading it, decided to take a vacation to Newfoundland where L' Anse Aux Meadows, the only verified Norse site in North America is located. What I learned in Newfoundland and the subsequent results of my research is remarkable.
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Probability Factor
PF1. Not likely. Prove to me that it is.
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| A photograph of Mound City at Chillicothe, Ohio. |
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| Mound City along the Scioto River (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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| Copper chisels found in Mound #3 at Mound City (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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| A manatee effigy pipe from Mound #8 at Mound City (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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| Anybody want to play Hungry Hungry Hippo? (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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| Effigy pipe of a bearded European face found at Mound City (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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| Illustration of grave at Mound #18, Mound City (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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| Picture A: Maine Coon Cat or Norwegian Forest Cat? |
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| Picture B: Maine Coon Cat or Norwegian Forest Cat? |
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| Sheffield, Ohio fortified enclosure now a playground (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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| Serpent or horse? Effigy pipe from Wood County, West Virginia. (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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| An old view of the Horse Creek, West Virginia petroglyphs |
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| Fortifications at Independence, Ohio (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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| Ogam petroglyphs in Wyoming County, West Virginia |
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| Skull from a mound in the Scioto Valley (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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| Front and top view of the same skull (Illustration from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley 1848) |
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January 15
Vinland Vignette
We start the new year with a couple interesting links, then a commentary on history before continuing with Central.
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History Through Legend
Can the history of this planet be told through many of the ancients texts and legends that have been handed down to us?
I am going to specifically refer to the Bible, the Torah and the Q'ran in this article although I will make references to other texts and legends.
Although the entire creation myth from void to a fully populated earth only takes 7 days, remarkably the general order is in accordance with evolution and what we know of how this earth was formed. On day one we have the big bang theory science now contends with and we have man making his appearance on the last days. There are time inconsistencies however. In Genesis a day would take a billion years. Many of the characters mentioned such as Adam, Noah and Methuselah are said to have lived for centuries. Perhaps the concept of infinity and how long it takes for things to evolve was something our ancient ancestors had difficulty in comprehending. Maybe chroniclers advanced lifespans to make up for generations and generations of non event. All in all, if we discard the time factor, it is nevertheless astounding at just how close ancient texts and scientific data progress together. We also must discard the guilt factor. Because of man's misdeeds bad things happen. This is a most common ancient explanation of why major historical disasters happen.
Man and woman were created by an unknown or divine power. Many researchers are now considering a star seed theory.
Regardless, man was given a Utopia, a fresh unsullied earth that our hunter gatherer ancestors existed upon. Because of our use of forbidden knowledge, corrupted by a serpent named as the epitomy of evil, we were cast from the garden. Ancient serpent worship was considered one of the first religions of man. Caves in South Africa show ceremonies at 50,000 years ago. It is natural that early man first worshipped animal deities and in fact this is still the case in some cultures today.
Knowledge caused man's exile from the garden given to him. That is a simple parable of how from simple life man has advanced(?) to the complications and aggravations of living today.
We have Cain and Abel. An introduction of violence where brother pits himself against brother but Cain's exile also gives more reason for the migrations of people across the Earth. (As does the later tower of Babel).
Noah and the Ark tell the myth of the wipeout of an earlier civilization of man and how the few survivors repopulated the Earth. There are many other cultures worldwide that also affirm this disaster. A documentary studied a Sumerian legend about a man and his family who travel with a great flood until he finally finds land. His account was examined in detail and everything from boat dimensions to locations were found to be entirely feasible. The Great Flood also exists in numerous accounts from numerous other cultures.
The cataclysm of the Great Flood can now be dated to circa 9500 BCE. Whether this was caused by the retreat of the last ice age with glaciers melting and releasing vast inland seas or by a comet passing nearby the earth or hitting it is presently the theories being examined. Scientifically, the gravitational change of a close call comet could cause "waters to spew from the earth" and create atmospheric changes which would result in a "deluge".
Discoveries of ancient underwater structures have been occurring for some time now. There is the huge block pyramid near Japan, the paved road between India and Ceylon, numerous monoliths and henges. The recent discovery of Doggerland between Great Britain and Denmark has been likened to have sunk beneath the waves like Atlantis.
Another footprint of a pre ice age civilization is the megalithic polymer structures that are found everywhere. A prime example is the H blocks at Puma Punka in Peru and several other Meso American sites. An analysis of some of these stones show biological material within them. Some claim this proves the concrete theory. Others say the stones were melted with acoustics or solvents so they could be cut like butter.
Not only the Romans and Greeks but many other historical civilizations built on top of these earlier links in the history of man including some of the structures we are currently looking at in the Ohio Valley.
Not only are the clues found extensively throughout the world but there are many here in North America as far north as Edmonton and as close to home as the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan.
Sceptics ask if this is the case, then why is there not more evidence and in response is the suggestion that most traces would have been buried under the sediment of huge mud slides that eliminated traces of this unknown people similar to the way ash buried Pompei, only on a much larger scale.
We thought Gobekli Tepi was history shattering at 7500 BCE and then Karahan Tepi came out at 9500 BCE. More searching has discovered dozens of sites, an entire culture that existed in this area thousands of years before the emergence of the Sumerians or the Egyptians. Quite amazing that all this takes place south of Mount Ararat, where in biblical records Noah landed and the reblossoming of civilization took place.
We must take a slight diversion from scriptures to look at Greek historians and the legend of Atlantis, which was once thought to be related to the Great Flood. This was a highly advanced civilization known for seagoing trade. The most likely candidate is considered to be the Greek island of Theros, which fits descriptions perfectly right down to a detailed description of it's harbour. It perished in a volcanic eruption around 1500 BCE. At this time Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed in a rain of fire, now considered to be fallout from this eruption.
Looking at Moses, around the same time period, the plagues that beset Egypt have been scientifically explained as has the burning bush of Mount Sinai, an active volcano. The parting of a certain area of the Red Sea may have actually happened based on recent studies of winds and currents.
More recent diatribes examine in detail the historical references to Jesus.
In summary, why should these texts, revered by millions, not be considered as historically accurate as any other adopted records?
What has all this got to do with Vikings you ask?
First, a warning. When you research something, invariably there are other tangents that must be examined that force one to delve deeper into related subjects. One literally gets stuck in the past. My bad. Secondly, we must allow more credibility to the past. All the footprints that we have in the form of legends, records, oral histories (Viking!), art, song and poetry (don't let me get into Troy). Lastly, a major rewrite of history is long past due and I hope this blog will play a small part when the true story of the Vikings in North America is presented correctly.
Now, on to more serious stuff...
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I am once again posting the link to Squier and Davis' survey as it is quite a critical reference to this part of the blog. It can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file. Although many of the sites are posted in the photo section here, there are many more illustrated in their survey and this work can be used to compare with geographical locations:
Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley
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Chillicothe, Ohio
Mound City 1846
Copper chisels
Copper axes
Effigy pipes
Human remains
Just north of Chillicothe, Ohio is Mound City, one of the more spectacular of the ancient mound builder's sites. It was surveyed by Squier and Davis in 1846 who dug a number of the mounds. Although primarily a native site, some of the mounds contained very interesting or unusual items. Squier himself, who had a strong pro Christopher Columbus mindset, referenced that the burial methods here were 'analogous' to Celtic barrows.
Mound #3 was a grave mound. It contained a number of well constructed copper chisels.
Mound #7 was also a grave mound. This one revealed a number of copper axes. Seven feet into the mound were found 2 copper axes weighing 2 pounds each with lengths of 6" and 7" respectively. Then at subsequent depths of 1 foot, three more axes were found. At the bottom of the mound was a mica layer shaped like a crescent moon and a skeleton.
Mound #8 was an offering mound that contained among other items, a remarkable 200 effigy pipes. There were numerous bird and animal pipes. There were even some zoomorphic and human pipes.
Quite interesting were some that displayed very exotic birds and animals that were definitely NOT from the area. Their accuracy indicates the carver must have actually seen these animal. Toucans and other tropical birds have been identified as well as a manatee, otherwise known as a sea cow, an animal that only inhabits waters southward of Florida. One intriguing pipe reminds me very much of the old child's game 'Hungry Hungry Hippo'.
But by far the most definitive of the pipes has to be the one that features a bearded European face.
Mound #18 is another grave mound but this one is interesting because the skeleton at the base of the mound was laid on a bed of cobblestones 4' x 6'. Instead of being laid vertical the body was laid diagonally to fit, making this ancient over 7' in height. The skull was reportedly 'large and massive'. It's presence is currently unknown.
(I am waiting for the day the Smithsonian pulls a massive 'reveal')
This site is well preserved today as the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park.
Geographical location: 39.379, -83.006
PF 3-4
February 15
Here is one for the cat lovers out there. There is not much that really needs to be said. Enjoy the pictures.
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Norwalk. Ohio
Fortifications 1850
This was a complex with three hilltop enclosures and some mounds. Reported by Charles Whittlesey in 1850 from earlier surveys. It is now replaced with residential and roads.
Geographical location: 41.225, -82.644
PF 3
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Granville, Ohio
Fortifications 1847
Surveyed by Squier and Davis in 1847, it's unique shape can no longer be identified based on old records but Infirmary Mound Park seems to be in the described area.
Geographical location: 40.026, -82.516
PF 3
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Sheffield, Ohio
Fortified Enclosure 1840
Reported by Charles Whittlesey in 1850 from earlier surveys. The soil was much richer on the inside of the enclosure than without possibly indicating this to be nothing more than a protected or walled garden. It is now replaced with residential.
Geographical location: 41.461, -82.123
PF 2-3
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Sheffield, Ohio
Fortified Enclosure 1840
Reported by Charles Whittlesey in 1850 from earlier surveys. The soil was much richer on the inside of the enclosure than without possibly indicating this to be nothing more than a protected or walled garden. Geolocated by topography, this area is now a park with a trail and a playground.
Geographical location: 41.461, -82.094
PF 2-3
March 15
Maine Coon Cat vs Norwegian Forest Cat
From last month, picture A is a Norwegian Forest Cat while picture B is a Maine Coon Cat.
One of the major theories that is generally accepted is that skoggkats were taken on board Viking ships to take care of rodents. When arriving in the New England area they came off the ships and bred with animals native to North America. Also, genetic testing has indicated that the Maine Coon is a descendent of the Norwegian Forest Cat and an unknown (possibly extinct) local American breed of wildcat.
(Remember the Danish Sheepdogs in Peru?)
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Wood County, West Virginia
Effigy Pipe ca1840
This baked clay effigy pipe was plowed up in a field across from the mouth of the Hocking River where many mounds were purported to have been. It is most unusual in its design, being sinuous and terminating in what appears to be a horse or serpent head.
Geographical location: 39.177, -81.749
PF 3
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Horse Creek, West Virginia
Ogam Inscription pre 1983
These are also known as the Lynco, Lillyhaven or Luther Elkins petroglyphs.
Although known much earlier, information and a translation by Dr. Barry Fell were published in 1983. It is believed dating of this site to be in the area of CE 600-700.
Since then quite a serious debate has been raging as to whether these markings are Ogam or done by the local inhabitants. On the pro side is the University of California, Riverside while with the con viewpoint is the Council for West Virginia Archaeology
One can view both arguments and make their own decision by looking at these sites. Incidentally, following links from the University of California website will turn up a plethora of articles on PCE visitations.
Geographical location: 37.698, -81.677
PF 3
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Independence, Ohio
Fortifications 1816
Reported by Charles Whittlesey in 1850 from surveys sometime before the beginning of construction of the Erie Canal in 1816, this was three miles southeast of Cleveland. Now it is part of the city and replaced by freeway.
Geographical location: 41.417, -81.642
PF 3
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Wyoming County, West Virginia
Ogam Inscription 1981
Human Remains 1989
Known as the Cook Petroglyph, this panel is eight feet high and twenty feet long. It was discovered by archaeologist Robert L. Pyle in 1981. Here is a link that provides full details: Ogam Inscription
A phase two investgation of this site in 1989 turned up a skeleton in a nearby hollow. The skull was preserved and experts determined it to be of European origin. (Unfortunately Uncle Adolph did more harm than good with his twisted views on Phrenology.) This should be at the Wyoming County Historical Museum.
Later testing of the teeth confirmed this with carbon dating at CE 710 +/-40.
Here is a link that provides full details on the bones: Petroglyphman
Geographical location: 37.692,-81.633
PF 4
April 15
Valley View, Ohio
Fortifications 1846
These walls once overlooked the Cuyahoga River and the Ohio Canal. They are now completely replaced by residential. First catalogued by Squier and Davis in 1848.
Geographical location: 41.379, -81.608
PF 3
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Independence, Ohio
Fortifications 1848
These have been replaced by residential. First catalogued by Squier and Davis in 1848.
Geographical location: 41.352, -81.606
PF 3
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Bedford, Ohio
Fortifications
Just over a mile east of the Valley View fortifications overlooking Tinkers Creek is what is known as the Indian Point Fort. A YouTube video shows unhewn stone walls.
It is currently preserved as part of the Bedford Reservation.
Geographical location: 41.378, -81.568
PF 3
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Mount Carbon, West Virginia
Fortifications 1850
It was reported that Armstrong Mountain featured a Stone wall and two round towers. Nearby burial mounds contained seated figures. This site was known before 1850.
Geographical location: 38.137, -81.294
PF 3
....to be continued.